Pakistan's hypnotizing truck art
THE WEEK MAGAZINE
By Elianna Spitzer
As the medium gained popularity, painters became a common fixture at workshops and roadside eateries where they tried to lure new clients. Today, truck owners spend hours working with painters to choose the best colors, materials, and images for their designs. Deciding how to decorate a truck may be the most important part of owning it. Truck art went relatively undiscovered by the Western world until the 1970s, when American and European tourists brought back photos of the colorful vehicles. Then, in the 1980s, the Pakistani government capitalized on the unique art form by organizing truck art exhibitions. Truck art is now a popular Pakistani cultural export, inspiring toys, furniture, and clothing lines in Pakistan and Britain. [More]
By Elianna Spitzer
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| A security guard stands by of his favorite painted truck at a truck stop outside Faisalabad. | (REUTERS/Caren Firouz) |
